Cyle Larin's late equaliser earns Canada first World Cup point in 1-1 draw with Bosnia
Cyle Larin came off the bench to score a 78th-minute equaliser as Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup opener, earning the country’s first point at a men’s FIFA World Cup.
A moment of relief
Canada had lost all six matches across their two previous World Cup appearances, in 1986 and 2022, scoring only a single goal. That barren run appeared set to continue when Jovo Lukić headed Bosnia and Herzegovina in front from a corner in the 21st minute. The co-hosts pressed for the rest of the game, but a combination of missed chances and a superb goal-line clearance from Sead Kolašinac kept them at bay. Then Jesse Marsch turned to his bench.
Cyle Larin, a 31-year-old striker on loan at Southampton, required only 121 seconds to make his mark after being introduced in the 76th minute. He swivelled in the box and fired a deflected right-footed shot past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, sending the announced crowd of 43,002 into raptures. The goal earned Canada a point and gave the team a foundation to build on in Group B.
- Kick-off at BMO Field, Toronto, after opening ceremony featuring Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette
- Jovo Lukić scores Bosnia's opener with a header from a corner
- Nikola Vasilj avoids red card after clattering Tani Oluwaseyi; offside deemed to have occurred
- Sead Kolašinac clears Richie Laryea's shot off the line, deflecting onto the crossbar
- Cyle Larin equalises in the 78th minute, having been substituted on two minutes earlier
Canada's World Cup ledger
Canada’s previous World Cup campaigns both ended without points. In 1986, they lost all three group games, as they did in Qatar four years ago. The draw against Bosnia marks the first time a Canadian men’s team has avoided defeat on the game’s biggest stage. The team’s all-time World Cup goal tally now stands at two.
- 1986
- 0
- 2022
- 0
- 2026
- 1
The celebrity circus
A home World Cup debut attracted a constellation of Canadian stars. Ryan Reynolds, Mike Myers and NHL standout Connor McDavid were among the faces spotted at BMO Field. Myers wore a Canada jersey and a red bucket hat. Alanis Morissette delivered a stirring rendition of the national anthem, while Michael Bublé performed before kick-off. A flypast by the Snowbirds, the Canadian air force display team, added to the occasion.
Marsch said when told of the actor’s presence. The American-born coach added that he had also spotted music producer Boi-1da on the stadium screens, but insisted his focus remained on the football.Mike Myers was here? Oh sweet,
Key incidents and a refereeing debate
Jonathan David, Canada’s all-time leading scorer, squandered a clear chance in the 17th minute when his left-footed shot was gathered comfortably by Vasilj. Early in the second half, Richie Laryea appeared certain to equalise, only for former Arsenal defender Kolašinac to hook the ball off the line and onto the crossbar. Bosnia almost doubled their lead when Ermedin Demirović went through on goal, but Maxime Crépeau, making his World Cup debut, made a vital save.
The match also produced a talking point four minutes after half-time: Vasilj, while punching a long ball clear, caught Canada striker Tani Oluwaseyi in the head with his fist. Argentine referee Facundo Tello took no action, with an offside call rendering a penalty moot but a red card still possible. BBC pundits later disagreed on whether Vasilj should have been sent off.
What comes next
Canada were without captain Alphonso Davies, who missed the match with a hamstring injury, but will hope to have him back as the group stage progresses. The result leaves both Canada and Bosnia on one point behind group favourites Switzerland, who began their campaign later. Canada’s next fixture is against Qatar, and a win would put Marsch’s side on the brink of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time — or at least a place among the eight best third-placed teams.
